New Delhi
TRIFED, which is an organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and dedicated to the socio-economic development of tribal communities through the marketing development of tribal products, is utilising the ongoing Aadi Mahotsav here like never before.
A day after entering into a strategic partnership with Tea Trunk, TRIFED has now made a similar move with Meesho, the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) and Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) to facilitate tribal businesses.
On Tuesday, it signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the three entities with the underlining aim being to promote livelihood generation of tribal communities. The MoUs — marking a pivotal step in ensuring the implementation of the B2B approach and augmentation of the tribal product market — were signed during the ongoing flagship event ‘Aadi Mahotsav’, being held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the national capital from February 16 to 24, 2025.
“The principal objective of the MoU with Meesho is to facilitate the onboarding of tribal products onto their social commerce platform, accompanied by training and capacity-building initiatives for tribal suppliers. The Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) will assist in establishing long-term collaborations with culinary professionals and hotel chains through their technology platform. Furthermore, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization (MGIRI) has partnered with TRIFED as the knowledge partner to conduct training and capacity building for artisans,” the Ministry said in a statement.
These MoUs were exchanged by General Managers of TRIFED with Prachi Bhuchar, Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs of Meesho, Chef Manjit Gill of IFCA and Ashutosh A. Murkute, Director of MGIRI respectively in the presence of Ashish Chatterjee, Managing Director, TRIFED on various aspects leading to the social economic development of tribal communities across the country.
Meesho is an Indian e-commerce platform that primarily focuses on social commerce. It allows individuals and small businesses to sell products online through their portal and often through social media channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
The IFCA is a professional organization dedicated to the development and promotion of the culinary arts in India. It serves as a national body that represents the interests of chefs and culinary professionals across the country.
The MGIRI is an institution in India dedicated to promoting rural industrialization. It was established to carry forward the vision of Mahatma Gandhi regarding sustainable rural development and self-reliance through the promotion of small-scale and cottage industries.
With this and several other ventures, TRIFED continues further with its efforts to enable the economic welfare of these communities and bring them closer towards mainstream development, the Ministry maintained.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the festival on February 16, 2025, in the presence of Jual Oram, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs; Durga Das Uikey, MoS Tribal Affairs and Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament, New Delhi.
TRIFED has been organising “Aadi Mahotsav – National Tribal Festival” to provide direct market access to the tribal master craftsmen and women in large metros and State capitals. The theme of the festival is “A Celebration of the Spirit of Entrepreneurship, Tribal Craft, Culture, Cuisine and Commerce”, which represents the basic ethos of tribal life.
